UH Manoa's Margo Edwards receives the U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award

HONOLULU - On January 10, 2007, the United States Coast Guard presented Dr. Margo H. Edwards, Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Hawaii Mapping Research Group at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, its top civilian public service award: the U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award.

Dr. Edwards was honored at a ceremony held during the Arctic Icebreaker Coordination Committee (AICC) meeting in Seattle, Washington. Coast Guard Captain Tedric R. Lindstrom, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HEALY, conferred the award on behalf of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. This award was in recognition of Dr. Edwards's (onboard the USCGC HEALY with Johns Hopkins University's Louis Whitcomb in photo at right) outstanding support of the Coast Guard and the scientific community while serving as a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Arctic Icebreaker Coordination Committee (AICC) from September 2001 to December 2003, and as Chair of the AICC from January 2004 to January 2007.

The certificate was signed by Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard. The citation accompanying the medal awarded to Dr. Edwards follows:

"The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard takes great pleasure in presenting the United States Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award to Dr. Margo H. Edwards for outstanding support of the Coast Guard and the scientific community. Dr. Edwards served as a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee (AICC) from September 2001 to December 2003, and Chair of the AICC from January 2004 to January 2007. During the initial period she was a key member of the committee that provided invaluable advice on science equipment and operations on all three Coast Guard polar icebreakers. These efforts resulted in numerous improvements to the layout and functionality of the ships‘ science labs and equipment. The committee also instituted a system of formal post-cruise debriefs to gather information on science activities and to provide valuable suggestions for science operations and to share "lessons learned" with future users of Coast Guard icebreakers. Under Dr. Edwards‘ leadership as Chair of the AICC, the committee provided key advice on future upgrades of USCGC HEALY‘s multi-beam swath mapping sonar system, towing of streamers in sea ice, improving on-line cruise manuals, and determining requirements for underway data collection. The committee made valuable suggestions on improving procedures for coordinating science operating with Alaska native communities. Especially notable were truly substantial contributions of Dr. Edwards and the committee to the Booz-Allen-Hamilton "Polar Ice Operations Mission Analysis Report" and the National Research Council Report on the Assessment of U.S. Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Roles and Future Needs. Dr. Edwards‘ leadership and enthusiasm for the Coast Guard icebreaker program and her involvement across a wide swath of the academic community resulted in greater visibility of Coast Guard polar icebreakers as scientific platforms, as well as a greatly enhanced partnership between the Coast Guard and scientific community. Dr. Edwards‘ accomplishments are heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard."

Contact information:Margo H. EdwardsSenior Research Scientist and Director of the Hawaii Mapping Research Groupmargo@soest.hawaii.edu(808) 956-5232

About the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at ManoaThe School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) was established by the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii in 1988. SOEST brings together in a single focused ocean, earth sciences and technology group, some of the nation‘s highest quality academic departments, research institutes, federal cooperative programs, and support facilities to meet challenges in the ocean and earth sciences. Scientists at SOEST are supported by both state and federal funds as they endeavor to understand the subtle and complex interrelations of the seas, the atmosphere, and the earth. For more information, visit www.soest.hawaii.edu